...we came in?

[strangerpeople]

POOR UNFORTUNATE SOULS


[There's no doubt that those who wake up will vaguely remember a dream.

In that dream, at least for most people, there are two figures, informing them each that they had a Title. With that title came a power. More than that, they were being given rooms, as if they were meant to stay in the dark and gloomy place where their dreams placed them. The Strangers might have found this to be a ridiculous proposition. Unless they have been through this before, then were probably not surprised in the least.

All of this, of course, ended with a sense of inexplicable dread for everyone. Especially when they woke up to find themselves in long, thin, cramped rooms, with only candlelight to give them any illumination.

Yes. Unfortunately, that dream had not been a dream at all, much as you might have hoped. You are here, now, inside an old, decrepit house where you have been given what appears to be a permanent residency. While you apparently have a power to aid you, it's no comfort. You have no option to leave, you have no way to escape, and the rules hammered to your door doesn't help the creeping sense of doom pooling in your stomach.

...

Now.

Where are those two figures that had greeted you to begin with?]

((OOC: Please remember to comment on the Mansion Guests and the Guest Profiles pages if you haven't yet!))

Comments

[silvertongueheir]

Depending on how my abilities work...perhaps I could try to create fire inside the bucket of water. That might heat it without actually burning.

[hexposition]

[Huh!]

We... could certainly try. If it got out of hand, I could just add more water, right?

[silvertongueheir]

I suppose we could try right now, then. [He looks around for the cleanest bucket, also moving so that it's as far away from those flammable bedsheets as possible.]

[hexposition]

Hm... perhaps we should relocate? It looked like there might be a good spot to practice across from the. Erm. "Facilities."

[silvertongueheir]

Right. I suppose that would be a better location to use. [He picks up the bucket, heading towards the arena next.] I planned to practice my abilities in general over there, anyway.

[hexposition]

Yes, that had been my intention, as well. But it never hurts to practice with an actual goal in mind, or with a partner.

[silvertongueheir]

[He nods.] Practicing how to synergize our abilities is just as important as practicing how to use them on our own, after all.

[hexposition]

Right!

[So, it's off to the arena they go! Thankfully, that's not a particularly long walk, being on the same floor and all.]

[silvertongueheir]

[Franciscus sets the bucket down in the middle, giving them plenty of space, though he does glance a bit at the weapons on the walls as well.]

Very well then. Ladies first? [He gestures for Emma to try her water abilities first.]

[hexposition]

[Yeah, those aren't. Ideal. But ah, well! There is magic to do!]

Ah, yes! One moment...

[She holds out her hands above the bucket like she's used to for her other spells, closing her eyes to concentrate. When she opens her mouth to speak, her words seem to come out in two tongues at once.]

Aqua.
Water.

[Realistically, she probably doesn't need the incantation, but that's what she's used to, so it's what she defaults to. As if by her command, the bucket fills up with water.]

[silvertongueheir]

Ah, is that how you usually perform magic? [Franciscus simply stretches out a hand, concentrating on fire and making it appear within the water instead of anywhere else. For a long time, nothing seems to happen, before finally fire appears-above the water. He quickly closes his hand, extinguishing it with a frown.]

...I suppose I might require more practice before my next attempt.

[hexposition]

I, ah... know a couple of tricks, yes. I haven't gotten any other ones to work here, though.

[Emma, what is even the point of you hiding it anymore?

And... hm. That certainly was an attempt.]

It's all right. Fire can be difficult to master. [Local good witch is not judging.]

[silvertongueheir]

[He doesn't even know what the implications of all that would be, either. Though he doesn't press.]

You have experience with multiple elements? [He sounds a little surprised, but not as much as he would have been before meeting all those people from different worlds.]

[hexposition]

J-just little things!

Before this, I could light candles and such... really, it's nothing impressive. B-but, you know, there's a big difference between lighting a candle and lighting, say, the entire table...

[baby Emma may have made Mistakes™]

[silvertongueheir]

[Oooh, that gets a wince from him.] Ah...I'll endeavor not to cause an incident like that while practicing, then. [The dummies are probably the most flammable thing in here, at least.]

[hexposition]

If you do, it happens! Just... be sure to call for help before it gets out of hand. Lessons learned.

[silvertongueheir]

Well, I at least know I'll have you to call for assistance, should that occur here.

[hexposition]

And here's hoping it won't! I hope for the best for your practice rounds.

[silvertongueheir]

[He smiles.] I think I might as well take this opportunity to practice in this area for a while. Though I don't mind sharing the location.

[hexposition]

[She smiles, bright and cheerful.]

Heehee. All right, then. Let's see what we can do!

[Emma's not particularly competitive, so it should be a fairly nice, calm round of practice.]

[silvertongueheir]

[Franciscus doesn't particularly try to do anything fancy, mostly focusing on controlling the size and position of his flames, and keeping them mostly small for now. Though he does glance over every so often to see how Emma is using her water abilities.]

[hexposition]

[Emma, meanwhile, already has a much better handle of it. She's testing out how she can move it, if she can dispense it in drops like rain or if she's just stuck with summoning a sphere of water and having it crash to the floor.

She does notice Franciscus glancing, occasionally, and while she's not competitive, she can't help herself. She'll summon a little sphere of water, no larger than a marble, and have it zip around him quickly before returning to her and splashing in a small puddle on the floor, all with a little smile.

"Just a couple of tricks." Emma, you're already showing off.]

[silvertongueheir]

[Hm. A challenge, then? Franciscus doesn't really want to just duplicate her trick, since he's still not sure he can move fire around that well yet-so instead he creates a small flame that slowly grows, forming into the shape of a flower bud before seeming to unfold, halfway to forming a flower-like shape for a moment before collapsing into shapeless fire again.]

Ah...it seems experience is quite the advantage for you, here. [Though control is also more important for his power than hers, after all.]

[hexposition]

[Emma puts her hands together with delight at the little light show. It's not perfect, certainly, but she can see what he's trying to do.]

Heehee... maybe! But you're certainly getting the hang of this yourself!

That's quite a lovely use of it. I don't think I've ever thought to do that, myself.

[silvertongueheir]

I was trying to think of a way to tie it back to my original abilities. Though it felt much more unwieldy to shape. But at least I think I'm getting the hang of extinguishing it quickly, should the need arise.